Meizhou City is located in the northeast of Guangdong Province, adjoins to Wuping, Shanghang, Yongding and Pinghe counties in Fujian Province to the northeast, connects with Xunwu County in Jiangxi Province to the northwest, borders Longchuan County and Zijin County in Heyuan City of Guangdong Province to the west, and neighbors Luhe County of Shanwei City and Longcheng District and Jiexi County of Jiexi City in Guangdong Province to the south, and borders Chao'an County and Raoping County of Chaozhou City to the southeast. Under its jurisdiction there are Meijiang District, Meixian County, Jiaoling County, Dapu County, Fengshun County, Wuhua County and Pingyuan County.

Meizhou has a long history. It was established as a prefecture named Jingzhou in the Nanhan (911-971), changed into Meizhou in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) and Jiaying Prefecture in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). After several subsequent shift of jurisdiction and change of popedom, it was turned into Meizhou City in 1988. Now Meizhou is a famous historical and cultural city.

Meizhou has quite some scenic spots and human culture and historic sites, attracting numerous tourists. Guo Moruo described cultural relics in Meizhou as top-notch in his poem on his inspection tour to the city in 1965.

Meizhou has been reputed as the Town of Overseas Chinese, the Town of Soccer and the Tower of Culture. Currently, it has a population of about 4 million overseas Chinese sojourning in over 70 countries and regions worldwide. Meizhou has attached much importance to culture and education since ancient times, and enjoys advanced education now. The city is the hometown of Huang Zunxian, a diplomat and reformist, modern poet Li Jinhua, painter Lin Fengmian and marshal Ye Jianying.